Fish-grapple.



T. H. BATLA.

FISH GRAPPLE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 11. I915.

Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

THJBATLA THOMAS H. BATLA, 0F TEMPLE, TEXAS.

FISH-GRAPPLE.

Application filed April 17, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS H. BATLA, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Temple, in the county of Belland State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFish-Grapples, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawmgs.

This invention relates to fishing and trapping and particul rly to afishing device of the grapple type, the parts of which are so arrangedthat when a baited hook is nibbled by the fish, the spring pressed jawswill be released and instantly closed, said jaws embodying prongs orhooks which will engage the fish and prevent its escape.

The invention has for its primary object an efficient construction of adevice of this character, the parts of which are so arranged that theymay be easily manufactured and assembled and not liable to get out oforder, and whichwill operate positively and quickly upon the springingof the trap. And the invention also aims to generally improve devices ofthis class so as to render them more useful and commercially desirable.

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions,arrangements and combinations of the parts that I shall hereinafter morefullydescribe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had'to thefollowing description and accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is aperspective view of a fishing trap embodying the improvements of myinvention. Fig. 2 is a view of the device with the parts in setposition. 7

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and designated in all of the views of the accompanyingdrawing by like reference characters.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the main frame of myimproved trap, said frame being in the form of a yoke and embodying ashank 2,. provided at one end with an eye 3 a line and having divergingarms 1 at the other end of the shank, said arms being formed withenlarged bearing extremities A spring encircled shaft 6 is-journaled inthe extremities of the arms 4, and also Specification of Letters Patent.

for an attachment to.

Serial No. 22,159.-

nions 7 of jaws 8, each of said jaws em bodying inthe present'instance aU-shaped member 9 from which Patented Aug. 3', 1915.]

arms' l any desired number i of hooks or prongs 10 project, the bills ofthe hooks extending inwardly toward each other, as clearly illustratedin the drawing. 15-3 The spring 11 which enclrcles the shaft 6 issecured to one of the arms 4 at one end and at its other end is coiledany desired number of tlmes around one of the U-shaped members 9 and inorder to provlde for the simultaneous operation of both jaws, thetrunnions 7 at one end are extended through the ad oining arm 4 and areprovided on their extended ends with meshing pinions 12.

Thus it will be understood that when one of the jaws is moved the otherwillbe correspondingly moved. In order to hold the aws 1n their open orset position, I-provide a latch 13 which is pivotally connected at oneend to the shank 2 and which is curved, as shown, so that its other endis-adapted to extend around one of the U-sha d members 9 to hold thejaws open, the extremity of said latch being then engaged with theshoulderld to a trigger 15 which is formed in the nature of a crank armon a transversely extending rod 16 journaled in the arms l andextendingacross the same above the shaft (3. The trigger 15 is formed with anopening designed to receive a snood or the like, upon which a hook 17 isadapted to be suspended, whereby when the hook is nibbled or pulledupon, it will release the trigger from the latch and free the latter,whereupon the jaws will at once he released gnld instantly and forciblyclosed upon the From the foregoing description in connection with theaccompanying drawing, the operation of my improved trap will beapparent.

In the practical use of the device, the hook 17 is baited, and the jawsare then against the tension of the spring 11, so that the latch 13 isengaged first around the U- shaped members 9 and then with the shoulder11 of the trigger 15. Thus the trap will be held set with the jaws inopen position and just as soon as the hook 17 is disturbed, the triggerwill be released from the latch 13 and the aws will be permitted toclose.

\Vhile the accompanying drawing illustrates what I believe to be thepreferred the other,a yieldable member engaging one of the" jaws fornormally holding both of the jaws 'in closed position, a latchengageable. with one of the jaws for holding both the jaws; in openposition, a trigger controlling the latch, and a bait holder connec'tedto the trigger.

' 2. A fishgrapple including a supporting yoke, a pair of substantiallyU-shaped jaws copies of this patent may be obtained for having terminaltrunnions, said trunnions being 'journaled in the yoke,inter-meshingpinions keyed on the adjacent trunnions of the aws, wherebythe movement of one'jaw is communicated to the other aw, hooks car-'ried by thejaw, a shaft extending between the arms of the yoke, asprlng wound helically on the'shaft and ,having its one terminal engagedwith one of the jaws, and its other terminal fixed relative to the yoke,

said spring serving to normally hold both of the jaws in closedposition, a latch mem ber engageable with one of the jaws for holdingboth of said jaws in open position, a trigger controlling the latch, anda baitholder for the latch.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature in the presence ofwitnesses.

' THOMAS H. BATLA; Witnesses J. B. TALLEY, LETHA EASTERWOOD,

C. B. VADE.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington,D. C.

